Mango Postal

How to Send a Custom Postcard in Canada (DIY vs. the Easy Way)

There's something mail does that modern communication can't. It makes someone stop, smile, and probably stick what you sent on their fridge.

· 5 min read

Whether you're sending a photo from your trip or just want to surprise a friend on a random Tuesday, a good quality postcard customized to have a piece of you on it just hits diffrent.

We’ve got two ways to make it happen. You can do it yourself (DIY), or let someone else handle the printing and mailing for you (aka, use Mango Postal). Here’s what both actually look like.

O ption 1: Makea custom postcard (DIY)

If you've got a printer, some cardstock, and a bit of patience, you can absolutely make your own. Here's the process.

What you'll need

  • The Postcard Design: your photos, artwork and a photo editing software (Tip: you can edit photos in applications like instagram and download them to print)
  • Cardstock: To mail Postcards in Canada, Canada post requires Postcards to be 0.18 mm thick (0.007 in / ~7pt) at minimum. We use 0.35 mm 300gsm paper at Mango Postal because it needs to be sturdy enough to survive the mail
  • Printer: Make sure your printer can use the thick card stock as not all printers have that capability. for DIY one off use we recomend something like the EpsonXP-15000.
  • Ruler: Canda Post requires certain "quiet spaces" where addresses and postage stamps go. more details bellow!
  • Postage Stamps: lowkey the most exciting part!

Steps

  1. Design your postcard. Standard postcard size in Canada needs to fall inside Canada Post's limits.

    Smallest: 140mm x 90mm (5.51" x 3.54" inches)

    Largest: 245mm x 156mm (9.65" x 6.14" inches)

    At Mango Postal we use a 4" x 6" postcard that we find to offer a nice size and enough space to work with. We also pair it with a free envelope to make sure it is not damaged during shipping.

  2. Get creative but Leave room for the essentials. Shown bellow are the required dimensions and zones for any postcard you send. This is only the back side, you can do anything you want on the front side!

    Horizontal layout of the back of your postcard

    Horizontal postcard back divided by a vertical line, with the message area and return address on the left, the postage stamp area top right, and the destination address zone bottom right
    The horizontal layout: a vertical line splits the message area from the address side, the stamp sits in the top right, and the destination address keeps 10 mm (0.4 in) clear of the edges.

    Vertical layout of the back of your postcard

    Vertical postcard back divided by a horizontal line, with the return address and postage stamp area on top and the destination address zone filling the lower half
    The vertical layout: a horizontal line puts the return address and stamp on top, and the whole lower half becomes the destination address zone with 5 mm (0.2 in) clear space around the address itself.
  3. Print it. Print your design on one side and the address layout on the other. If you are in a specifically "artisan" mood you can also hand write everything! its really not that serious
  4. Add postage. A standard postcard in Canada needs a domestic stamp. At the time of this article it currently costs $1.44 CAD (at Mango Postal we charge 0.99 cents for shipping)
  5. Finnaly, your artwork is done. Just drop it in a mailbox and let our Majesty's postal service do their thing

Option 2: Send a Postcard Online with Mango Postal

We love a handmade postcard, but if you're away from home, or just want to send mail while still adding your personal artistic touch, this is where Mango Postal comes in.

How it works

  1. Upload your photos. Pull in whatever pictures you want from your camera roll.
  2. Design it like an Instagram story. Arrange your photos, add text, and complete your art piece.
  3. Add a personalized message to the back.
  4. Add the recipient's address.

It is as simple as that. We take care of the rest from here.

What it costs?

Each postcard is $5.99 CAD + $0.99 for shipping, and a protective highquality envelope is included for free.

Which one should you pick?

If you love the process, DIY is genuinely satisfying and worth doing for a special one-off card. But if you're on the go, need to send a postcard to multiple people, or want a high-quality image on your postcard, sending it online with Mango Postal is probably your best bet.

Your postcard will be printed on thick, high-quality stock and arrive in an envelope to help protect the picture quality and keep your postcard looking great. The whole process takes just one or two minutes on our platform.

Either way, go send someone a postcard. Nobody's ever been upset to find one in their mailbox.

Make one now

Create a custome postcard online now and mail the postcard anywhere in Canada or the US

Make a postcard

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